Shaft coupling



June 5, 192s. n1,672,398

M. TREscHow SHAFT COUPLING Filed Feb. 16, 1927 Patented .lune 5, 192.8.

UNITED STATES PATENT orme,

.MICHAEL .rREscHow, or COPENHAGEN, DENMARK.

SHAFT coUPLING.

'Application filed February 16,I 1927, Serial No. 168,504, and in Denmark Marengo, 1926.

The object of'this invention is Ltoyprovide an improved coupling for the coupling of two shafts which may' or ymay notv y,be in line and. may or may not be subject Ato relative displacen'ient either axially or laterally 'to a limited extent. The driving effort is transmitted through ropes or similar flexible elements under tension. In accordance with the invention, there is interposed between the two shafts a freelyv floating element which is connected by tension members with both shafts, such tension v members being flexible so that they can be taken up more or less as conditions require and provisions being made for taking up suchflexible tension members and for securing their ends.-

' The invention will be explained more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying 4drawing in which it isillustrated and in whichi Figure l is a view in elevation of the improved coupling as seen from a point in the' line of the shaft axis, some parts being shown in section and the shafts being omit ted.

Figure 2 is a view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line 2-2 of Figure 1, the shafts being shown as broken off.

Figure 3 is a detail view in sectional elevation and on a larger scale of one of the rope bearing members at the end of one of the shaftarms.

Figure 4- is a view in section on the plane indicated by the broken line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a detail view in elevation of one of the rope bearing members carried by the floating'element.

Figure 6 is a detail view in sectional elevation and on a still larger scale of the device for securing the end ,of the rope and for taking up slack.

Figure 7 is an end view of the device shown in Figure 6.

The two shafts to be coupled are indicated at a and a in Figure 2 and each is shownas having secured at its end a double arm b, each of which is extended across the axis of the shaft to an equal extent on both sides of such axis. The two arms b, b are disposed at right angles to each other, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. At each end of each arm b and b is secured a rope bearing block or member c, the preferred construction of which is shown in detail in Figures 4 and 5.

As there shown each block has two trans-v versely groovedV bearing studs c', bridged Aat their outer ends' as at '02.. The base orr body c3 has an openingc* largeenough to lpermit the passageof two ropes hereinafter lmentio'ned, and is formed with two slotted lugs c5 for the support 'of the rope tightening and securing devicesy d, hereinafter described.

Between the two shafts va, a is a floating elementk e, that is, anelement whichis not fixed to either shaft, is noti directly supported by either shaft, and is capable of limited displacementwith respect to each shaft, lat. orally, axially and angularly. This vfloating,

member may have any convenient form,

`mounted at the end of the cross arm as t@ permit adjustment for the purpose of regulating the tension of the ropes. As shown. the bearing member isheld to the end of the arm by a bolt c4 and adjustment of the bearing member and of the tension of the ropes is effected by using wedges between the end of the varm and the bearing member to force the bearing member more or less from the end of the arm, then inserting shims, as at e5, between the bearing member and the end of the arm, and finally setting up the bolt e* to hold the bearing member tightly against the end of the arm with the v interposed shims.

vWhen the coupling is ready for use, the two shafts are so placed that the two arms b, b are at right angles. Thefoating member e being in position, a rope f, having one end` made fast to one of the securing devices d, on one kof the arms, as b', passes down through the bearing block c and then up through the opening :0* in the same and has a quarter turn about one of the studs c', then passes over the inner bearing e2 at the end of one of the arms of the cross, then about one of the studs c of the bearing block c at the end of the arm b, then over the outer bearing e3, and then again about the first stud c, this being continued until the requisite number of strands is provided, when the other end of the rope is made fast at the securing device of the second block c.

ln a similar manner the several .ropes f are applied and secured, each rope being placed under the proper tension by adjustment oi the securing devices d at the ends thereotl and by adjust-ment of the bearing member e', as already described.

A suitable form of device for securing cach end of the rope is shown in detail in Figures 6 and 7. In the form oi device there shown, the end of the rope is passed through a sleeve d', th'ebore of which is cored out at its end, the sleeve itself being threaded externally. The end of the rope is stranded and the ends of the strands turned in over a suitable core, indicated at (Z2, to form a head d which' cannot be drawn through the sleeve ci. The sleeve d may be notched: at its end, as at d, for engagement by a suitable tool to hold it ron'i'turning. Onthe sleeve d is threaded a sleeve (Z5 vwhich may rest against the end of the lug members, provision is made for the transmission of driving effort regardless of rela tive displacement within reasonable limits of the two shafts either axially or laterally or angularly, that by reason of the fact that effort is transmitted from one shaft tot-he other through tension members only, the floating member will always adjust itself to position between the two shafts, tending to assume a position of equilibrium, and that as lthe coupling is practically frictionless,v

the loss of energy will be negligible.

' I claim asl my invention:

A. shatcoupling comprising double arms secured respectively to the shafts to be coupled, a bearingstud mounted at each end of each arm', a floating member, double bearing blocks mounted on the floating member, and flexible connectors each being secured at one end to one of said arms and at the othervend tothe other of said arms passed vabout the bearingstudsl 0n the two arms and bearing alternately on the bearing surfaces of the double bearing blocks. v This specijication signed this 14th day of January A. D. 1927.

MICHAEL TREsoHow. 

